news / Words from one of our young supporters....

27th Sep 2017

....Ann-Cathrin (Anki) Stick, a Year 11 pupil at Francis Holland School in London, and her involvement with the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund UK.

"I was inspired to get involved with the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund at the age of 10 due to my mother's involvement with the charity. It started off by accompanying the NMCF UK team to several events and organising a cake sale at my old school in 2012. The older I became the more I wanted to volunteer and did things such as delivering tickets for events, spending my 'take your daughter to work day' at the NMCF UK office and 6 months volunteering as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. Subsequently I ran the British 10K as well as a Tough Mudder and organised a school cake sale in September 2017, all of which raised funds for the charity. Last year, I was also part of my school's charity committee, which helped raise funds for my schools chosen charities in London and Sri Lanka.

During a sport's tour to South Africa in 2016, I had the opportunity to see the circumstances under which some children grow up in. After visiting and spending time with children in townships as well as an orphanage, I got a better understanding of the challenges some young people face, as well as the happiness which was brought to their faces when they saw the equipment we had donated.

This experience has inspired me to go on to raise awareness and much needed funds for the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund. The project which I am most passionate about is the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital, which is 1 out of 5 children's hospitals on the African Continent. I am very fortunate to lead such a privileged life, where I am able to go and see a doctor whenever I am unwell. I am aware that many children do not have this opportunity and this project enables all children to receive the care they need without having to worry about financial implications as 'no child will be turned away due to their parents inability to pay'.

NMCF's mission is to "Change the way society treats its children" to improve not only the quality of their lives now, but to ensure that they have a healthy and fulfilling future. When I got involved I was extremely impressed to learn that Nelson Mandela donated 1/3 of his presidential salary for the 5 years of his presidency in order to set up NMCF in 1995 to offer care, protection and support to the most vulnerable children in Southern Africa. He always wanted his charities to be his legacy and to survive and continue to work beyond his lifetime. I am so proud that NMCF is helping up to 100,000 children and young people each year through their different programmes of work. One of the programmes which I always felt most strongly about is 'Sport for Good'. Sport is my passion, it allows me to break free from the world around me as well as seeking the opportunity to build new relationships. Sport is used as a tool for development and social change, and used to communicate important health education messages about HIV and Aids, as well as building confidence and leadership abilities in young people.

Recently, I participated in a tennis leader course at CLTC to allow me to volunteer for my tennis club to help out with tournaments and teach smaller children how to play and improve their tennis and overall sporting skills.

As a teenager going currently through my GCSE's I know how important education is and that leadership skills are needed to succeed in life. Therefore I am glad that NMCF offers these opportunities to young people in South Africa!

I'm determined to keep raising awareness as well as donations for the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund UK in order to help transform the lives of others. Without the support and the generosity of family, friends and teachers, I would not have been able to make a difference. However, I will continue my support and dedication for people in need to provide them with a safer and happier environment."

If you would like to sponsor Anki for her recent Tough Mudder please click here!!